The Best Air Fryers of 2025

Written by
Camryn Rabideau, writer and product tester with over 8 years of experience. Her work has also appeared in Forbes Vetted, People Tested and Buy Side from WSJ.
Sharon Franke, Cooking tools maven and former professional chef in NYC.

Updated December 18, 2025

Air fryers are compact countertop appliances designed to deliver fast, crispy results with little to no oil. They excel at cooking frozen foods, snacks, vegetables, and small proteins quickly—often faster and more efficiently than a full-size oven.

That said, air fryers are not all-purpose appliances. They work best for smaller portions and foods that benefit from high heat and airflow, but they’re less suited for baking large dishes or cooking multiple trays at once. They're also different animals than air fryer toaster ovens, which are typically more like multifunctional countertop ovens.

We tested the best air fryers to find the models that deliver the crispiest results, are easiest to use day to day, and offer the best value—while also helping you decide whether a standalone air fryer is the right fit for your kitchen. In fact, our favorite air fryer, the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer (available at Amazon) , not only excels at frying food, but it also has nine other additional functions, so it might not ever leave your countertop.

Is a Standalone Air Fryer Right for You?

A standalone air fryer is a good choice if you:

• Want fast, crispy results for fries, wings, nuggets, and vegetables
• Cook small to medium portions most of the time
• Prefer a compact appliance with minimal setup
• Reheat leftovers and frozen foods often

You may want another appliance if you:

• Regularly cook large meals or multiple trays
• Want to bake casseroles, pizzas, or breads
• Need one appliance to handle many cooking styles

Other Air Fryers We Tested

Dash Deluxe 6-Quart Air Fryer

• Capacity: 6 quarts
• Dimensions: 12.5 x 14.8 x 14.8 inches
• Weight: 15.67 pounds

The Dash Deluxe 6-Quart Air Fryer delivers browned, crispy food, as long as you don’t overload it. Although it’s a 6-quart model, the basket's small diameter holds less food in one layer than the larger models tested.

While the Dash doesn’t include digital controls, it's still very simple to operate. Turn the temperature and time dials in an intuitive, two-step process. If you’re tired of boring-looking appliances, the Dash comes in glossy red, yellow, and aqua, as well as white and black.

Even though you have to hand-wash the baskets, they're nonstick and easy to get clean.

Pros

• Food comes out crispy

• Simple to operate

• Multiple colors available

Cons

• Controls aren’t digital

• Basket is tricky to remove

• Parts are not dishwasher safe

$99.99 from Amazon

$112.50 from Walmart

Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer

• Capacity: 6 quarts
• Dimensions: 10.59 x 14.65 x 15.67 inches
• Weight: 15.36 pounds

The Dreo ChefMaker is more than just an air fryer. It also comes with additional features to extend its capabilities, such as a built-in temperature probe and compatibility with the accompanying app. That means it can do everything from crisping up frozen fries to cooking a steak to medium-rare perfection.

But we did encounter a few hiccups during testing. First, the speed of this machine comes with a serious learning curve. Although we were excited that the Dreo ChefMaker churned out quick, crispy results, we were unable to follow standard air-frying recipes and instead had to keep a close eye on the viewing window as the food cooked.

This large appliance also comes with a hefty price tag, so it may not be a suitable option for consumers looking for a typical air fryer. Since it takes up a decent amount of counter space and requires an investment, this machine is better suited for folks looking for an all-encompassing, hands-off cooking experience.

Read our full Dreo ChefMaker review.

Pros

• Quick cooking and intuitive

• Easy to clean

• Runs quietly

Cons

• Large footprint

• Prone to overcooking

$238.99 from Amazon

Ninja Air Fryer XL

• Capacity: 5.5 quarts
• Dimensions: 11 x 14 x 14.75 inches
• Weight: 11.7 pounds

The Ninja Air Fryer XL is a larger version of the Ninja Air Fryer. It has a 5.5-quart basket and an extra “air roast” setting, but beyond that, it’s virtually identical to the smaller (and cheaper) model.

That said, we weren’t impressed with this air fryer's capacity—the round basket is taller but not much wider than the original version, which isn’t really helpful when you’re cooking foods that need to be in a single layer. When we cooked waffles in it, only two fit in the bottom, and the second one didn’t lie flat.

In testing, we found that this air fryer is more powerful than most, creating a lovely crispy exterior on foods in less time. We often needed to pull food out a few minutes early to prevent it from overcooking.

We also like that this model has a simple, straightforward control panel, but it lacks features such as a preheat function and a ma id-cycle shake timer. You also have to manually pause it before pulling the basket out—otherwise, the inner fan doesn’t stop.

Read our full Ninja Air Fryer XL review.

Pros

• Cooks food quickly

• Straightforward controls

• Good original recipes

Cons

• Lack of features

• Not as large as expected

$119.99 from Amazon

$168.49 from Walmart

Dash Compact Air Fryer

• Capacity: 2 quarts
• Dimensions: 8.1 x 10.2 x 11.4 inches
• Weight: 5.7 pounds

This compact air fryer is just so darn cute that you can’t help but love it. The Dash Compact does a decent job of “frying” as long as you stick to about a half-pound of food at a time. No preheating is required, but for the best results, toss and turn the food several times during cooking.

With its dial temperature controls, you can’t set the Dash to a precise temperature. For the most part, the manual is helpful and even includes a few recipes, but some of the temperatures specified in the charts and recipes differ from those printed on the machine. The dial also doesn't have precise temperature markings.

The nonstick basket is small enough to go in the dishwasher without hogging too much space. Like the bigger model, the Dash Compact comes in several colors: red, aqua, gray, white, or black.

Pros

• Small

• Doesn't require preheating

• basket is nonstick and dishwasher safe

Cons

• Controls aren't digital

• Cooks only one-half pound of food well

$49.99 from Amazon

What to Look For in a Standalone Air Fryer

Capacity and Basket Design

Air fryers are measured in quarts, but usable space matters more than capacity. A 4–5 qt fryer works for 1–2 people, while 6–8 qt models are better for families. Wide baskets crisp better than tall, narrow ones.

Crisping Performance

The core job of an air fryer is to brown and crisp. Higher max temperatures and strong airflow produce better fries and wings. Some cheaper models struggle to crisp evenly without shaking.

Controls and Presets

Digital controls are common, but presets vary in usefulness. Presets are helpful for beginners, but manual temp/time control is often more reliable once you know your preferences.

Ease of Cleaning

Nonstick baskets and dishwasher-safe parts matter. If cleanup is annoying, you’ll stop using it. Simple designs win in the long term.

Standalone Air Fryers vs. Air Fryer Toaster Ovens vs. Countertop Ovens

Air Fryer FAQs

How Does an Air Fryer Work?

For starters, it's not actually a fryer but rather a convection oven with a heating element and a high-speed fan that circulates hot air around foods in a basket. Using at most a half-tablespoon of cooking oil, the appliance will brown and crisp up food. However, it doesn't always deliver the same combination of all-over crunchiness and perfect tenderness as frying in oil. These appliances don't require more than a few minutes to preheat, so they deliver the goods faster than deep-frying.

How to Use an Air Fryer

These devices are easy to use and often easy to clean. Always check the manufacturer's instructions, but most will follow these basic procedures:

1. Preheat before cooking. Many air fryers need time to come to temperature before cooking. In general, preheat for 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the fryer.

2. Lay the food flat and don't overcrowd it. Just as with conventional frying, overloading your air fryer—especially with frozen foods—can lead to soggy or uneven results. Plus, it could also increase the cooking time.

3. Flip while frying. Don't forget to batter and/or bread items properly before dropping them into the air fryer, and be sure to flip your food halfway through cooking. Also, keep an eye on your food while it cooks. This will let you adjust the timing as needed and help you get used to your new appliance.

4. Clean the air fryer when you're done. Don’t forget to clean the appliance after you finish cooking and the device has cooled down. Food particles can accumulate over time and cause problems down the line.

Are Air Fryers Healthy?

There’s no simple answer to that question. Cooking with less oil and using convection is healthier than deep frying. However, another determining factor is what food you’re preparing. Chicken nuggets and French fries are great in an air fryer, but they’ll never be as good for you as baked chicken and Brussels sprouts.

What Can I Cook in an Air Fryer?

There are so many great air fryer recipes (especially for families)! Air fryers can do everything from baking, broiling, and roasting to reheating casseroles and even baking desserts.

They are, of course, limited by their size. But if you need an extra oven or don’t want to heat the kitchen with a traditional oven, these countertop appliances are helpful.

Some popular air fryer uses include:

• Roasting vegetables like potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and squash
• Meat dishes, such as crispy chicken, bacon, burgers, and hot dogs
• Frozen foods like chicken nuggets, french fries, tater tots, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings
• Baked goods such as donuts, fritters, and funnel cake

Can You Put Foil in an Air Fryer?

You might be tempted to cover the inside of your air fryer basket with aluminum foil before placing your food in to avoid the annoying post-cook washing process. But you're probably better off nixing any lining.

Technically, you can line your air fryer with aluminum foil (or parchment paper) safely without worrying about the concerns associated with microwaving similar materials. But we still caution against it for gustatory reasons.

Air fryer baskets are designed with openings throughout for optimal airflow. It's why frozen fries and chicken thighs don't come out crispy on top and soggy on the bottom. Covering those holes with any lining can inhibit airflow and result in a meh texture.

Thankfully, most air fryers feature a nonstick basket, and many are even dishwasher-safe, making cleanup so much easier. In our opinion, you're better off ditching the foil and giving your basket a good wash after each use. (Plus, less waste! A win-win.)

How We Test Air Fryers

To find the best air fryers, we rated these kitchen appliances on how well they cooked fresh (from scratch) and frozen French fries and chicken nuggets, and how well each model grilled hamburgers.

Since each air fryer is unique and there are all kinds on the market now, you’ll rely on the manual to get started. We checked whether each explained how to use the product thoroughly, provided guidelines for cooking specific foods, and included recipes.

We also considered how easy it was to use the controls (for both manual and digital air fryers), slide the basket in and out, and clean up.

As you may not use this kitchen gadget daily, we also considered how easy it would be to store and stash away.